"Unspoken"

Season of Mist

Artists:

Kylesa have made the not uncommon promise of following up what could be considered their breakthrough record, 2010's Spiral Shadow, with something "colder and darker." The major difference here is that Spiral Shadow was already one of that year's darkest, heaviest and best rock records, so how do they keep their word without forfeiting the accessible qualities that brought more people into the tent? Judging from "Unspoken," the Savannah quintet aren't bluffing regardless.

Much like their Georgia peers Baroness and Mastodon, this is more "heavy rock" than pure metal, something that could easily end up on whatever radio station that still plays Mandatory Metallica rock blocks and just as readily proves its superiority, melodic and visceral while maintaining a lurking sense of dread. "Unspoken" doesn't quite stray from their anthemic tendencies, it just marks a peripheral shift-- Laura Pleasants makes a welcome appearance on lead vocals here and in turn, temporarily transforms Kylesa to a heaving, goth-metal juggernaut. It's possible that Ultraviolet will push them even further away from the obsessive and possessive metal fringe, since "Don't Look Back" isn't just the title of Spiral Shadow's highlight-- it's Kylesa's M.O.